ATC equipment problem radar ASR-9 WX display.

Attributes
ACN	270267
Time
Date	199405
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bdl
State Reference	CT
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 8
ASRS Report	270267
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Navigational Aid	Unspecified

Narrative:

The ASR-9 WX display is close to unbelievable. I came into work this morning and the ASR-9 was displaying level 1 through 6 WX. It appears that the only way to verify the ASR-9 display is to look out the bathroom window and look at the WX sequence. This is a common occurrence. Today is especially difficult as we are expecting WX to move in from the west, what do you believe or not believe? It has been my experience that the ASR-9 WX display has a lot of limitations. Many times I'm displaying level 1 or 2 WX and the pilots won't go near the area. Other times I'm showing aircraft clear of the WX and they report still in it. It seems I have to rely on common sense rather than the equipment.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC EQUIP PROB RADAR ASR-9 WX DISPLAY.

Narrative: THE ASR-9 WX DISPLAY IS CLOSE TO UNBELIEVABLE. I CAME INTO WORK THIS MORNING AND THE ASR-9 WAS DISPLAYING LEVEL 1 THROUGH 6 WX. IT APPEARS THAT THE ONLY WAY TO VERIFY THE ASR-9 DISPLAY IS TO LOOK OUT THE BATHROOM WINDOW AND LOOK AT THE WX SEQUENCE. THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. TODAY IS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT AS WE ARE EXPECTING WX TO MOVE IN FROM THE WEST, WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE OR NOT BELIEVE? IT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT THE ASR-9 WX DISPLAY HAS A LOT OF LIMITATIONS. MANY TIMES I'M DISPLAYING LEVEL 1 OR 2 WX AND THE PLTS WON'T GO NEAR THE AREA. OTHER TIMES I'M SHOWING ACFT CLR OF THE WX AND THEY RPT STILL IN IT. IT SEEMS I HAVE TO RELY ON COMMON SENSE RATHER THAN THE EQUIP.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.